Printing press



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M. W. BRUESHABER Er AL 1,989,843

PRINTING PRESS Filed NOV 23 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ilw W INV NT RS Feb- 5, 1935- M. w. BRUESHABER Er AL 1,989,843

PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 23, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 727] W IN1/By To y BY j l 5, 1935- M. w. BRUESHABER Er AL 1,989,843

PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE PRINTING PRESS Application November 23, 1927, Serial No. 235,381

22 Claims.

The invention relates to novel and useful improvements in perfecting printing presses and more especially to such novel and useful improvements for producing a great variety of different sized products varying optionally and successively by the smallest successive page increments up to the full capactiy of the press.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and irnprovements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a printing press, showing certain features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan corresponding to Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation, in greater detail, of one section or part of the printing press, and comprises substantially one quarter of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged detail, with parts in section and parts broken away, of the twospeed driving mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detached detail of the split collar for the driving bevel gear, and is taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a central, vertical, transverse section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan of one arrangement of the slow speed sheet cutting mechanism and one of the formers; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view of another arrangement of the half-speed, half-width sheet cutting mechanism and one of the formers.

The invention is directed principally to producing from a press of given maximum capacity, any desired size of product from the smallest to the largest product by optional increments of only two pages, thus giving a complete range of selection as to the size of the product, between the greatest and least capacity of the press by the successive least possible increments. The invention in the present preferred embodiment is applied to a press of the unit type, and preferably to such a press having two series of perfecting units arranged in two lines or series, one superimposed upon the other, although in certain of its aspects the invention is also applicable to other types and kinds of presses.

With this main object in view, and other objects as well, a press is provided wherein a plurality of perfecting units, one or more of the printing units being adapted to run at either full or half-speed, may be arranged selectively to supply perfected webs of various selected widths to a folding mechanism. When one or more of the perfecting units is run at half-speed, a mechanism is provided for cutting the perfected half -speed web, of a selected fractional width, into sheets and feeding these sheets in intermittent or spaced-apart relation with respect to the pages upon the full speed perfected webs, all being directed in the desired association into the folder. The slow-speed perfecting mechanism operates optionally upon a full width, three-quarter width, half-width or quarter-width web, and these webs may be directed into various associated relations with the full-speed perfecting webs, the slow-speed perfected web being usually preliminarily severed into sheets. Thus successive increments of only two pages, the smallest possible increment unit, may be supplied to secure any product between the smallest and largest possible capacity of the press.

As previously indicated, the invention is preferably embodied in the unit type vof press, the perfecting printing units being arranged in line series, and preferably in two superimposed series, and the folding mechanisms, consisting of four formers and two cross-folders, are preferably interposed between each successive group of four perfecting units.

Either all of the perfecting printing units, or alternate or other selected units in a given row, may be driven at either full or half-speed at will. Usually the groups of units furnishing webs for common association will require only one slowspeed unit to supply all necessary sizes of products. The feed rollers from the various units are, of course, likewise arranged to run either at full or half-speed to correspond with their respective press units. Half-Width, reversible angle bars are provided for each printing unit, there being a slitting mechanism between each unit and its angle bar, and the slitting unit will of course be adapted to run at either full or half-speed.

A half-speed sheet-cutting mechanism is pror vided for each of the variable-speed perfecting units, andis located between the angle bars for that unit and the corresponding former. In so far as concerns the broader aspects of the invention, this sheet-cutter will be of half-width y folders.

and may be stationary with respect to its particular former. Thus the perfected. sheets from the half-speed printing unit would be associated with every other successive page along one or more perfected webs coming from one or more of the full-speed perfecting units. VIf the Variable-speed perfecting unit is run at full speed, the sheet cutter will of course be silenced. It will be obvious that two or more of the half-speed sheet-cutters can be employed in various locations and relations as may be found useful or desirable.

The web supply for the variable speed unit or units may be the usual web supply, and web rolls of various Widths may be used. A quarter-width web could` be run to give 'anr increment of two pages over the full capacity of the full-speed .units running to the same former, and a halfwidth web could be run to givealike increment of four sheets. A three-quarter width webl could be run, employing the slitter, and the slit quarter web wouldberun over the angle bar and associated with vthe half-web prior to cutting', in case only one half-speed sheet cutting mechanism is employed; Thus for every product it would be possible to optionally run two, four or siX pages from the half-speed unit as desired increments to the full capacity of webs coming from any numberof full-speed perfecting units running from the same former. y

As a further feature, increasing the eXibility of this press, a half-width web supply roll may be Vrun centrally through the printing unit, this half-width webrbeing centrally slit, and either half thereof run to one of the side-by-side formers. either cross-folder from a single half-width web supply roll. ln connection vv'ith'this run of web, it is provided that the half-speed sheet-cutter may be variably positionable across the press, and thus be brought into alinement ywith this particular run of web; that is, the sheet-cutter could be moved along its shaft so that it is half-way in line with either former. K n

In the-present preferred and exemplarily disclosed embodiment of the press, which is of the cally-disposed formers. Preferably there are several such groups or arrangements of printing units and folders in longitudinal series in a single press, depending upon the maximum size product kwhichis desired.

The paper supply for the perfecting units of the lower series is located preferably below, and the paper supply for the upper series of perfecting units is located preferably above the respective seriesof printing units, theV perfected webs runningfrom the two series of runits into the intervenin'g space, and therethrough and therefrom are directed tothe folding mechanism. In this intervening space are located the web lguiding rollers, the slitters, reversible half-width `angle bars,y and one or more of the half-width, halfspeed sheet-cutters, the product from all of these being directed selectively to the heads of the desired/formers, and so in associationV into the .Referring now to the. embodiment of the in- Thus two-page increments could be run to vention, illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, there is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2 a preferable arrangement of printing units and folding mechanisms, and a size of press well adapted for the universal requirements of many if notmost metropolitan dailies, but the particularmechanisms by which we attain the great diversity inthe fullrange of` sizes of products from theleast to the greatest capacity of the press, with all intervening sizes in increments of only two pages, are best shown in the subsequent figures.

In Figs. 1 and 2 are shown accordingly a plurality of perfecting: units of the so-called unit type press, arranged in two line series, one superimposed above'the other, the preferable grouply to. meet the major requirements of any newsn paper, and that the particular arrangement of printing units and folding mechanisms could likewisev be widely,r varied, 'within thek scope of v our invention. The total capacity of `a press of the size and arrangement shown will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

In accordance with certain features of the invention, one or more ofthe perfecting printing units in each group, say goups of four, as shown in Figsll and Zwill be provided with mechanism for runningthe unit at either full-speed or half-speed and thev usual web supplying mechanisin will be used 1to supply. a quarter-width, half-width, three-quarter` width or full width web to this unit. The perfected half-speed web is severed into sheets and is associated with the full speed perfected webs in ways hereinafter described more fully,'to provide the successive twopage increments that may be necessary or desirable for variousruns or editions of the paper.

' In the embodiment rof Fig. l, the printing units in the lower series are numbered from l to 8,' and those in the upper series are numbered from 9 to 16, for purposes of description and identificationy in connectionl with the latter description of thek various runs and arrangements for different sizes of products. The folders are likewise numbered for identification and similar purpose as F-l, F-Z, F-3 and lik-4.

The general press structure in Figs. l and 2 is shown only in sufficient detail as may be necessary or convenient in disclosing the present invention. The press comprises 'a longitudinallydisposed base frame 30, upon which the perfect-` ing units of the lower series are mounted in the usual manner, this frame being provided with upright-side .frame members 31, upon which is supported the longitudinally-disposed side frame members 32, upon which are mounted the perfecting units of the uppermost series.

series, with a pair of former rollers 42 and. 43 at` the head of each former as usual.. A similar pair A longitudinally-disposedtop frame 34 is also provided,A

' of formers 44 and 45 are similarly located with respect to the corresponding group of units in the lower horizontal series. In connection with each of the lower formers there is provided a sheet cutter and cross-folder 46, and the perfected and longitudinally folded webs may be run in any association desired from the formers to the cross-folders, as will be well understood.

Any suitable form of web supply may be provided, so far as concerns many features of the invention, it being borne in mind that the narrow-width webs for the slow-running printing unit or units may be supplied from the usual web-supplying mechanisms for the full-width webs. As embodied, there is provided beneath each perfecting printing unit of the lower series a web-supplying mechanism 50, adapted to provide a continuous web-supply without stopping the press, various forms of such devices being well-known and in common use. For the various perfecting units of the upper series, as embodied, similar sources 51 of web supply are located above the respective printing units, and preferably on the next-above floor of the building. In this particular arrangement, it is customary for the webs to be run upwardly from below into the respective printing units of the lower series and for the webs to be run down from above into the respective printing units of the upper series.

The perfected webs are preferably directed from the lower printing units upwardly, and from the upper printing units downwardly, into the space between the two superimposed series of printing units, and in said space the webs are guided, turned, slit and possibly cut into sheets,

as may be found necessary or desirable in connection with running the various size and arrangements of products desired.

In the embodied form of driving mechanism, a general driving shaft 60 is journaled in bearings 62, carried on the side frame of the machine, there being clutches 63 provided for silencing any one of the branch drives for particular units or pairs of superimposed units, or other desired groups in the press. As embodied, in the branch drives, there is sleeved on the driving shaft 60 a bevel gear 65, and meshing therewith is a bevel gear 66, xed on a vertically-disposed shaft 67, which shaft is journaled in bearings 68, mounted on the machine frame, and is provided with cooperating bearing collars 69. The vertical shafts 67 are used to drive two superimposed printing units, with an individual drive for each of the units.

The various perfecting printing mechanisms are preferably of the unit type, and as shown, each unit comprises a pair of form cylinders 115 and 120, and respective cooperating impression cylinders and 110, all iournaled in side rames 74 and 76 respectively, of the particular printing unit. The frames for the respective units are mounted on the general press frame. The respective inking mechanisms are shown fragmentarily and diagrammatically, and are indicated generally by the reference numerals 76, and may be of any suitable form.

The drive from. shaft 67, for a perfecting unit or units in each group, or vertical series, which are driven at full speed (when not silenced) comprises a driving bevel gear 81, fixed on the shaft 67, and meshing with the bevel member 82 of a compound gear journaled on the machine frame, and comprising also an integral spur gear. The spur gear member 83 of this compound gear meshes with a spur gear on one of the impression cylinders, the three remaining cylinders of the two printing couples being driven therefrom by any known or suitable form of gearing, which need not be described in detail. It is possible to silence any of these perfecting units by suitable means, such as slipping the bevel gear 81 on its shaft 67, which may be done by removing the split collar 84, which may be of the usual form. Any vertical group of the perfecting units can be silenced by means of its clutch 63. It will be understood that these various features of construction may be widely changed or varied in so far as the main features of the present invention is concerned.

Referring now to the present preferred embodiment of means for1 driving any one or more of the perfecting units optionally at either full or halfspeed, such mechanisms are shown applied to the two lowermost of the perfecting units of the group shown in Fig. 3. In most installations, however, it will be found sufficient to equip only one printing unit of such a group with the change speed mechanism.

Referring to said change speed driving mechanism in detail (Figs. 4 and 6) a bevel gear 91, for full speed driving, is fixed to rotate with the shaft 67, and is slidable on the sha1" t by a spline 89 into and out of mesh with a bevel gear 92 of a compound gear 93, which latter is jcurnaled loosely upon a stub shaft 94, i loimted on the machine frame. In the drawings this gear is shown out of mesh, but is vertically movable into mesh, and may be held there by a split collar 95, interposable between the hub of the gear, and the journal lug or block 68. Also slidably mounted upon shaft 67 is a half-speed bevel gear 99, by means of a spline 100. This gear is movable into and out of mesh with a bevel gear 101 of a compound gear 102, which is iournaled on a stub shaft 103, mounted on the machine frame. A similar split collar 95 is employed to hold the bevel gear 99 in mesh with the bevel gear 101.

To drive the printing unit cylinders at either speed, both the spur gear 109 of compound gear 93, and the spur gear 110 of compound gear 102, are continuously in mesh with a spur gear 104., fixed on the shaft 106 of an impression cylinder 105, the compound gear which is out of mesh with its driving bevel gear, as the case may be, rotating idly. Fixed on the opposite end of shaft 106 of impression cylinder 105, at the other side of press, is a spur gear 107, which meshes with a spur gear 116, fixed on shaft 117 of the plate cylinder 115. Impression cylinder 124 is driven by means of a spur gear 108, fixed on its shaft 109, and meshing with the spur gear 104, xed on shaft 106 of impression cylinder 105. Similarly, plate cylinder 120 is driven by means of a spur gear 118, fixed on its shaft 119, and meshing with spur gear 121 on the shaft 109 of impression cylinder 124. Thus by slipping either the driving bevel gear 91 or the driving bevel gear 99 into mesh with its corresponding compound gear, the perfecting printing unit may be run either at full speed or half-speed.

In the illustrated embodiment of means for handling, and for operating upon, the perfected @ebs from the various printing mechanisms, the webs from the printing units of the lower series are directed upwardly, and the perfected webs from the upper series are directed downwardly into the intervening space between the two series of units. In this space a slitting mechanism 122 is provided for each of the printing units, and beyond the slitters each unit is provided with a Iii) slitters may: be silenced, or may be driven at either full speed or half-speed as desired, and this may same for-roer.

be doneV by any i-:nown or suitable mechanism, such'as the usual or other suitable forms of slip gears and interchangeable speed change gears,

'which' need not be illustrated. Means are likewise provided for directing the webs, when slit, either over the angle bars, or whenv not slit directly forward to the head rollers of the formers, both as shown' in Fig, Bfof the drawings. It will be clear also that the webs may beassociated in any desired relation, and may be run over as many or as few of the formers as need' be, and

' the longitudinally vfolded products may Toe run tothe folders in any desired arrangements. As

vshown in Fig. 3 all of the half webs are being directed to the lower pair of forme-rs, some of the half webs' going directly to the formers and some A passing over the anglebars.

For thepurpose of supplying the Various desired sizes of product'by optional two-page increments, there is further provided by ourinvention, in connection with the use of f one or more halfspeed perfecting units, one or more half-speed,

sheet-cutting'mechanisms 131, which may be of lany known or other suitable form, and these may vhave cooperating sheet guiding and timing devices, `which may likewise be of known or other suitable form. By means of said mechanisms the Vhalf-speed perfected webs, whether quarterwidth, half-wid n, three-quarter width or full width, may be cut into sheets and directed to the foirnersas found convenient or desirable'in connection with the particular size and association ofthe product.

Y1n Fig. '7 a' half-width'slow web a, or aslit v halfof a web is shown running through the .half-speed sheet-cutter 131 and going over the 'former 44.. `In accordance with one feature of vourinvention the slow-speed sheet-cutter 131 is of half-width and is movable, or variahly positionable longitudinally on its driving shaft 132,

across the press.

lnFig. 8 the sheet-cutter `lSi is shown positioned'inedianly with respect to the two formers '44 and 45. A supplementary slitter 13'? is mount-l *each of the formers.

A quarter-width'web znay be run through the half-speed perfecting u the full-speed units running te the saine former. This quarter-Wiesn perfected web runs through the .half-speed sheet-cutter,Y and the'sheets are delivered into association with-every other one vof the vcorresponding pages'in'the perfected fullwidth and full-speed web or webs running to the A lialf-width eb may be run in like-manner to'givea similar increment of four sheets. t three-quarter width web may be run,

" with the slitter and the slit quarter' ofthe slow-speed web -be run over the angle bars and associated with Vthe half of the same web, this associated product being thereafter out sheets and fed into alternate association with the same former. Thus vfor every product it to give an increment of two pages over the fidi/capacity of webs from .press unit and the forrners for cutting orf shee fected webs coming from the full-speed printing units. l

The perfecting unitsandthe folding mechanisms may bervariously grouped together .to secure products of various maximum sizes, with the previously explained capacity of two-pageincrc-ments and decrements, and also securing simultaneously a plurality of these products,- of the desired or predetermined size, frorn'the entire press. Assuming exeinplarily a press of the. size and arrangement Figs. l and 2, and having the mechanism and facilities shown more `fully in the remaining figures, this presawill produce from each group of four printing units any size of product, increasing by two pages, all theway up to kfty-four pages. VFor such products, printing units numbered l, 2, 9 and l0 are run to folder No. l; units numbered 3, li, 11 and rare run to folder No. 2; units numbered 5, 6, 13 and 14 are runto'folder No. 3; units numbered 8, l5 and 16 are run to units shown dia-grammatically iniig; il' could,

be driven as three independent five-unit presses, and in this arrangement would furnish products going up by two-page increments to a maximum product of seventy, pages. With this arrangement, units numbered 1, 2, 9, l0 and 11 would run to folder No. l; units numbered 3, 4, 5, 12 and 13 would run to folder No. 2; and units numbered 7, 8,14; i5 and 16 would run folder No. 4. With this arrangement, printing unit number 6 and folder No. 3 would be silenced.

it will be understood the foregoing that a press is provided having a very extensive range and iexibility in sizes of products through different arrangementsand associations of printing units and folders and other mechanisms, rand always with the facilities for` two-pageincrements and decrements in product sizes; 'and it will be further understood thatchanges may be made in structures and arrangements,exemplarily shown and described without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacriiicing its chief advantages.

What we claim isp-- l.V A printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting press units arranged in line series each unit comprising a pair ofprint-V ing couples, a'slitter, aipair of formersf at the of said plurality of units, means for 4running one of said perfecting press units at full or half speed, and means located between'a half-Spee from a halfV speed printed'web and associating Ythem with a full speed printedV web prior tcfolding.

2. 1i-printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting press units arranged in line `series each unit comprising a pair of printing couples, a slitter, a pair lof formers. at the end of said plurality of units, means for running one of said perfecting press units at half speed,

means for guiding the printed websfrornk and above the press units to the for-mers, and means f" located above said printing units for cutting off sheets from a half speed printed web and associating themwith a full speed printedweb prior to folding.

3.` A printing press including in combinationa shown diagrammatically iin plurality of perfecting press units arranged in line series for perfecting a plurality of webs, a slitter, a pair of formers at the end of said plurality of units, means for running one of said units at full or half speed, means for severing the webs, and means for associating the pages of the half speed web with alternate pages of the full speed web.

4. A printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting press units arranged in line series, a folding mechanism including a former at the end of said plurality of units, means for running one of said units at full or half speed, means for slitting the webs, means for cutting the half speed webs into sheets, and means for associating said sheets and a full speed printed web prior to folding.

5. A printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting press units arranged in line series, a folding mechanism including a former at the end of said plurality of units, means for running one of said units at full or half speed, means for slitting the webs, means for cutting the half speed webs into sheets, and means for associating said sheets and a full speed printed web in alternate page relation prior to folding.

6. A printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting printing units arranged in line series, at least one former in line with said series, means for supplying printed webs in various numbers to a former to produce different size products, including devices for optionally supplying a slow speed perfected narrow or full width web and means for cutting the longitudinally folded webs.

'7. A printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting printing units arranged in line series, at least one former in line with said series, means for supplying printed webs in various numbers to a former to produce different size products, including devices for supplying intermittently sheets from a slow speed perfected narrow or full width web.

8. A printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting printing units arranged in line series, a slitter, a pair of formers in line with said series, and means for supplying printed webs in various numbers to the formers to produce different size products, including devices for supplying sheets in spaced apart relation from a perfected narrow width slow speed web.

9. A printing press including in combination means for perfecting a plurality of webs, means for slitting a web, and a half width cutting mechanism shiftable transversely of the web for cutting a slit web into sheets and means for associating said sheets with a perfected web in spaced apart page relation.

1G. A printing press including in combination means for perfecting a plurality of webs, means for slitting a web, and a half width cutting mechanism for cutting a slit web into sheets, means for associating said sheets with a full width web, and means for subsequently folding and cutting the webs.

1l. A printing press including in combination means for perfecting a plurality of webs, means for slitting a web, and a half width cutting mechanism for cutting a slit web into sheets and means for associating said sheets with a perfected web and means for subsequently folding and cutting the webs.

12. A printing press including in combination means for perfecting a plurality of webs, means for slitting a web, and a half Width cutting mechanism for 'cutting a slit web into sheets and means for associating said sheets with a perfected web in spaced apart page relation and means for subsequently folding and cutting the webs.

13. A printing press including in combination a plurality of web perfecting units arranged in line series, a plurality of web perfecting units arranged in line series in superposition upon said first series, a folding mechanism in line with said perfecting units, means for directing the webs between said two series of units to the folding mechanism, and sheet cutting means arranged between said series to deliver sheets to said folding mechanism.

14.. A printing press including in combination a plurality of web perfecting units arranged in line series, a plurality of web perfecting units arranged in line series in superposition upon said first series, one at least of said web perfecting units being operable at half speed, a folding mechanism in line with said perfecting units, means for directing the webs between said two series of units to the folding mechanism, and sheet cutting means arranged between said series to deliver sheets from a half speed web to said folding mechanism.

l5. A printing press including in combination a plurality of web perfecting units arranged in line series, a plurality of web perfecting units arranged in line series in superposition upon said first series, one at least of said web perfecting units being operable at half speed, a folding mechanism in line with said perfecting units, means for directing the webs between said two series of units to the folding mechanism, and sheet cutting means arranged between said series to deliver sheets from a half speed web into spaced apart association with a perfected web prior to folding to said folding mechanism.

16. A printing press including in combination means for perfecting a plurality of webs, means for slitting a web, and a fractional width cutting mechanism shiftable transversely of the web for cutting a slit web into sheets and means for associating said sheets with a perfected web in spaced apart page relation.

1'7. A printing press including in combination means for perfecting a plurality of webs, a fractional width cutting mechanism shiftable transversely of the web for cutting one of the webs into sheets.

18. A printing press including in combination a plurality of perfecting printing units arranged in line series, a plurality of formers, means for supplying perfected webs in various numbers to a former to produce different size products, including devices for optionally cutting and supplying a perfected narrow web, and selectively delivering it to one or another of said formers and means for cutting the longitudinally folded webs.

19. A printing press including in combination .eans for perfecting a plurality of webs, means for optionally running a web perfecting mechanism at dierent speeds, means for slitting a web, and a variably pcsitionable partial width, half speed cutting mechanism for cutting a slit web into sheets.

2D. A printing press including in combination a plurality of full-width perfecting printing units, means for supplying a fractional width web to one of said perfecting units, means for 'cutting said fractional width web into sheets, means for associating said sheets with other of the perfected webs, a plurality of formers and devices for optionally directing the fractional width sheets to oneoranother of the ormers. Y

2l. A 'printing press including in combination meansr for perfecting a full width web, means operable at a slow speed for perfecting and cutting into sheets a fractional width web, side by side formers and means for associating said web and sheets and directing the fractional width web out into sheets either to one side of two, or both sides t 10 0f one, of the formers.

22. A printing press includingr in combination means for perfecting the full width web, means operable at a slow speed for perfecting and cutting into sheets a half-width web, side by side formers and means for associating said web with the sheets from said half -Width web and directing said sheets either to one side of two, or both sides of one of the formers. Y

" n MARTIN W. BRUESHABER.

HUBERT LANG. 

